Vegan on a budget

We have two more cooks joining our email circle this week ---- a warm welcome to Elayne in Nevada City, California, and Debbie in Wheeling, W. Virginia!

Debbie has a question for us:
Hi-I found your website via Thay's archives. I'm looking for help/advice on
how to accomplish mindful eating on a very limited budget. I'm on disability
and frankly only have less than $100/month for food and other necessities. I
live in an apartment, so no garden other than a few herbs/tomatoes on the
balcony. There is also no health-food store anywhere near me.
Anywhere I can read about how to cook without it having to cost me money I
don't have? Should I continue with rice and veggies? Thanks! --- Debbie in WV

I sent her a few suggestions but am eager to hear what others have to say on this important subject. Please send your ideas!

Meanwhile, here are two more recipes from our Winter Potluck --- Barb's Quinoa-Millet-Pea Bowl:
Quinoa-Millet-Pea Bowl

And Linda's Creamy Kale and Mushroom Casserole;
Creamy Kale and Mushroom Casserole

Last week I wondered how the currency exchange works out when making donations to Plum Village. John in Texas sent a helpful message about that:
Converting dollars to euros is easy. Just go to Google and type into the search box “convert one dollar to euros”. It will display the conversion. You can also just substitute the number of dollars you want to give into the conversion command, and it will give you the equivalent in euros. Currently, the dollar and the euro are almost equal. Today, for example, one euro equals $1.06.

As I write the Paris Climate Summit is underway. We will never know how many people around the world are fasting from meat and dairy during this time, but we can be sure many are watching the events in Paris and sending heartfelt wishes for a safe future for our planet. Maybe you would be encouraged as I am by this action from Maureen, an Earth Holder in Colorado:

In Denver, we are hosting a walking meditation as a part of the GLOBAL CLIMATE MARCH here. We will bless each person participating in the Paris Summit, in the marches around the world, and all beings with each step. We will renew our own commitment. We will touch the earth with each step and enjoy deeply that we are the earth. We will be asking what Bodhisattva Gaia would like to teach us, and will do our best to listen deeply.

Happy cooking,
Eve